My boyfriend is a local-food freak. When we go out to eat, he insists on interrogating the waitstaff with questions about where the food comes from. For every menu item he considers, the server has to run to the kitchen to answer his questions. My boyfriend isn’t normally such a high-maintenance guy, but in these situations he seems to think he’s Paris. How can I get him to calm down and just accept what’s written on the menu, and make his decisions accordingly?

Sincerely,

—Frustrated

A: In my opinion, you don’t need to calm down your boyfriend–you need to calm down, girlfriend. Although it’s possible your boyfriend thinks he’s some kind of spoiled brat, it sounds like he’s probably making these demands only partly out of self-interest, and in part because he wants to push the restaurant in a more sustainable direction.

And then some

By Maren Tarro

There are a lot of Mexican restaurants in New Mexico that really aren’t all that Mexican. Their menus are all pretty much the same: enchiladas, tacos and burritos served with beans, rice, a few shreds of iceberg lettuce and a measly scattering of tomato. After a while it all blends together into one big dish of mushy tortillas buried under cheese that’s more at home in Wisconsin than Oaxaca.

Latte Art Throwdown

By Robin Babb

I can guarantee you that every barista who has ever served you a latte also has a screenplay or a band or an Etsy business on the side. They’re typically a creative bunch. Which is why it’s no surprise that an art form has sprung up around latte-making, and competitions have sprung up around that art form. This Saturday, Nov. 24, head to Prismatic Coffee to see competitors from all over the state serve up their prettiest latte foam creations at their third annual Latte Art Throwdown. Food is served at 6:30pm, and the competition goes from 7 to 9:30pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Whether you’re more familiar with the French Riviera or the French Quarter, there are plenty of places in Albuquerque to get a taste of authentic French cuisine. Read Hosho McCreesh’s review of Le Quiche Parisienne in this issue, and check out these other restaurants in the city that will cater to your wanderlust and make you feel, if only for the evening, that you’re dining in the City of Lights. Bon appetit, mes amis.